RV Sikuliaq

RV Sikuliaq is an American research vessel owned by the National Science Foundation and operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Built in 2014 by Marinette Marine Corporation in Marinette, Wisconsin, the $200 million vessel replaced the 1966-built research vessel Alpha Helix that was retired in 2007. Sikuliaq, named after the Iñupiaq word for "young sea ice" and pronounced "see-KOO-lee-auk", will be homeported in Seward, Alaska.

Sikuliaq at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, in August 2014. Since then, the vessel has been painted in a different livery.
History
United States
Name: Sikuliaq
Namesake: Iñupiaq for "young sea ice"
Owner: National Science Foundation[1]
Operator: University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
Port of registry: Seward, Alaska[2]
Ordered: 5 February 2010
Builder: Marinette Marine Corporation, Marinette, Wisconsin
Cost: US$200 million
Yard number: 650[2]
Laid down: 11 April 2011
Launched: 13 October 2012
Completed: 6 June 2014[2]
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics [2][3]
Type: Research vessel
Tonnage: 3,429 GT
1,028 NT
1,556 DWT
Displacement: 3,665 long tons (3,724 t)
Length: 79.6 m (261 ft)
Beam: 15.85 m (52 ft)
Draft: 5.715 m (19 ft)
Depth: 8.5 m (28 ft)
Ice class: Polar Class 5
Installed power: 2 × MTU 16V-4000 (2 × 1,750 kW)
2 × MTU 12V-4000 (2 × 1,310 kW)
Propulsion: Diesel-electric
Two Wärtsilä Icepod 2500 azimuth thrusters
Speed: 14.2 knots (26.3 km/h; 16.3 mph)
2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) in 2.5 feet (0.76 m) ice
Range: 18,000 nautical miles (33,000 km; 21,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)[4]
Endurance: 45 days
Capacity: 24 science berths
2–4 20-feet science vans
Crew: 20 (+2)

Construction

The original science mission requirement of the new research vessel was prepared by a committee of the UNOLS Fleet Improvement Committee in 1998.[5] In 2001, Congress appropriated $1 million for a design study of a suitable vessel.[6] The vessel, called Alaska Region Research Vessel (ARRV), was designed by The Glosten Associates, a Seattle-based group of naval architects, in 2004.[7]

In May 2009, the National Science Foundation announced that it had received funding for the construction of an ice-capable research vessel designed to support scientific research in high-latitude waters.[7] In December 2009, the $123 million contract for the construction of the $200 million vessel was awarded to Marinette Marine Corporation of Marinette, Wisconsin, and the ceremonial signing of the contract was held on 5 February 2010.[8][9] In January 2010, the University of Alaska Fairbanks chose an Alaska Native name Sikuliaq, meaning "young sea ice" in the Iñupiaq language, after receiving more than 150 suggestions.[10]

The bridge of the Sikuliaq.

The keel of the vessel was laid down on 11 April 2011 and she was launched on 13 October 2012. Although Sikuliaq was initially expected to arrive in her homeport of Seward, Alaska, in January 2014,[11][12] her delivery was delayed due to technical problems and she spent her first winter in the Great Lakes.[13] Sikuliaq was finally handed over to the National Science Foundation on 6 June 2014.[2] During the summer of 2014, she passed through the Panama Canal and began science operations in the equatorial Pacific and along the US west coast in the autumn. She then headed to Alaska, where the vessel arrived in February 2015, making a port visit in Ketchikan.[14][15] She was officially commissioned in March 2015 at her home port of Seward.[16]

Description
Aft Deck of RV Sikuliaq

Mission and capabilities

Sikuliaq allows up to 26 scientists and students to conduct multi-disciplinary studies in high latitude open seas, near-shore regions and single-year sea ice, and facilitates the real-time virtual participation of classroom students via broadband connections. The major research opportunities include the effect of climate change and increased human use of Arctic regions on various issues such as ocean circulation and ecosystem dynamics.[6][17]

One of the most advanced research vessels ever built, Sikuliaq has extensive scientific facilities. In addition to 2,250 square feet (209 m2) of built-in laboratories, she can accommodate two to four 20-foot scientific containers on the 4,360-square-foot (405 m2) aft deck. In addition, Sikuliaq is fitted with flexible over-side handling equipment such as an A-frame in the stern as well as a number of science winches and cranes on the aft deck. She also has a retractable transducer centerboard (drop keel) for deploying various sensors under the vessel.[3][6]

Technical details

Sikuliaq is 261 feet (80 m) on and has a maximum beam of 52 feet (16 m). At a displacement of 3,665 long tons (3,724 t), she draws 18 feet 9 inches (5.715 m) of water. Designed for operations in ice-infested waters, the vessel has a sloping icebreaker bow and a hull that is two feet wider at the bow than in the stern to reduce ice resistance.[18] She is served by a crew of 20 and has provisions for two additional marine technicians.[3]

Sikuliaq has a diesel-electric powertrain in which the main diesel generators produce power for electric motors coupled to the propellers. She is powered by two 1,800 kW (2,400 hp) 16-cylinder and two 1,310 kW (1,760 hp) 12-cylinder MTU 4000 series high speed diesel engines.[19] Sikuliaq is one of the first vessels ever to be fitted with Icepod propulsion units, Wärtsilä's brand of ice-strengthened azimuth thrusters that can be rotated 360 degrees about the vertical axis. The Z-drive thrusters are "pulling", meaning that the propellers are facing to the direction the vessel is moving to improve the hydrodynamic efficiency. In addition, they are "can-mounted", meaning that the thrusters can be disconnected and lifted off for maintenance without docking the vessel.[4] She is also fitted with a bow thruster to assist maneuvering at low speeds.[3][18][20]

The maximum speed of Sikuliaq in calm water is 14.2 knots (26.3 km/h; 16.3 mph). In addition, she can break first-year sea ice up to 2.5 feet (0.76 m) thick at a constant speed of 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) — which inspired her name. She also has dynamic positioning capability.[6] Sikuliaq has an operational endurance of 45 days and can sail 18,000 nautical miles (33,000 km; 21,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[3][4]

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References
  1. "Sikuliaq (9578945)". Equasis. French Ministry for Transport. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  2. "Sikuliaq (14221929)". ABS Record. American Bureau of Shipping. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
  3. R/V Sikuliaq Characteristics. UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  4. The Icepod Revolution Archived 2013-12-28 at the Wayback Machine. Wärtsilä. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  5. Science Mission REquirements. UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  6. About the Sikuliaq. UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  7. NSF announces funding for Alaska Region Research Vessel. University of Alaska Fairbanks, 27 May 2009. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  8. Ceremonial Signing of the Shipyard Construction Contract for the R/V Sikuliaq. UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  9. UAF chooses shipyard to build Alaska Region Research Vessel. University of Alaska Fairbanks, 8 December 2009. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  10. University research vessel gets Alaska Native name. University of Alaska, 13 January 2010. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  11. USA: Global Class Ice-Capable RV Sikuliaq Hits the Water. Shipbuilding Tribune, 14 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  12. R/V Sikuliaq Events. UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  13. Sikuliaq departure delayed by technical problems. KTOO, 27 November 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  14. R/V Sikuliaq makes first Alaska stop in Ketchikan. Kheiry, Leila. KRBD, 10 February 2015
  15. R/V Sikuliaq to winter in Great Lakes, test 'hybrid' underwater vehicle. Phys.org, 15 November 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  16. UAF takes delivery of Research Vessel Sikuliaq. Alaska Business Monthly, 6 June 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
  17. History of the ARRV project. UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  18. R/V Sikuliaq Inboard Profile. UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  19. Sikuliaq Specification. Professional Mariner. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  20. R/V Sikuliaq first & second platform. UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
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